Naples' Emma Bradley tees off No. 1 in the second round of the U.S. Women's Open in 2017 at Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster, N.J. Bradley shot a 77 and finished with a two-day total of 159 to miss the cut in her first Open.(Photo: Lou Monaco/Special to the Naples Daily News)

Emma Bradley didn't want to postpone her dream any longer. So after one semester on the Baylor University women's golf team, the Naples native turned professional in June.

"I made the decision I believe because golf really is my No. 1 priority in life," Bradley said. "School is always something that's going to be there for me, but now I can focus squarely on my goal to be on the LPGA Tour."

Bradley, 19, initially committed to Ole Miss three years ago but switched to Baylor after Ole Miss advised her not to try to qualify for the LPGA Tour. Baylor coach Jay Goble was OK with Bradley doing that, so she signed with the Bears.

Bradley played in seven tournaments in the spring, and had a 77.33 stroke average, with a best finish of a tie for 28th twice.

"Having a team, that was super special to me," she said. "(Being in college and playing college golf) is a constant learning experience. ... College golf is different than any golf that I've ever played."

Balancing the responsibilities of school and being an athlete also was a learning experience, and Bradley learned that doing both wasn't for her at this point in her life.

"It's just a different beast," she said. "I felt like I couldn't grow my game the way I wanted to. I try to explain it that it's honestly like working two full-time jobs."

A post shared by 🦋Emma🦋 (@_emma.bradley_) on Jun 21, 2019 at 10:33am PDT

Bradley announced on Instagram on June 14 that she was turning professional, using this quote: "Listen to your own voice, your own soul. Too many people listen to the noise of the world, instead of themselves."

Bradley played in a tournament from July 29-Aug. 1 on the Cactus Tour in California. She tied for 21st, shooting 69-72-77, and won $625. She tied for 12th in a National Women's Golf Association tournament, also in California.

Those events were to get ready for the first stage of the LPGA Tour Qualifying School. Bradley shot 74-72 the first two rounds but had a 79 in the third to miss the cut back on Aug. 25.

"The final round of Q-school, it felt like exactly my second round of the U.S. Open," Bradley said, referring to being in position to make the cut with a good score. "The environment of cut lines and how to manufacture a score, that's something I really need to work on. I think that comes with playing more professional events, playing more Monday qualifiers, and playing more mini-tour events. It's what really makes or breaks you is the mentality."

Bradley will have some status on the Symetra Tour, the developmental circuit for the LPGA Tour and the other way besides qualifying school that golfers can get their LPGA Tour cards. In the interim, Bradley will play Monday qualifiers — she's scheduled to on Sept. 23 for the Indy Women in Tech Championship and on Sept. 30 for the Volunteers of America Classic near Dallas — and sprinkle in mini-tour events.

Among the reasons Bradley felt more comfortable to make the leap to professional golfer are her family and her corporate and local sponsors.

Her father Andy and mother Meggan flew to California with the family dogs for a month to help her get ready for the mini-tour events and qualifying school. Corporate sponsors Phil Wood of John R. Wood Properties (where her mother also works as a Realtor), Gary Harlan of NColor Salon, and Anthony Vessecchia of Body Crafters who has been her trainer, as well as local sponsors Paul and Barbie Hills, Roy and Darlene Geigel, and Ann Cornell have all stepped forward.

"I'm just really blessed," she said. "It takes a village to produce any professional athlete.

"There's absolutely nothing more special than having people willing to believe in you."

Bradley burst onto the local golf scene when she was just an eighth-grader, qualifying for the Class 1A state tournament as a regional champion at Seacrest. She gave up high school golf to play in junior golf. In 2017, Bradley qualified for the U.S. Women's Open but missed the cut.

The regional where Bradley qualified for the state tournament was at Hideout Golf Club, and that has become her home among what she says has been a very supportive golf community.

"It is the most welcoming and supportive community," she said. "I'm proud to be a part of this wonderful town."

Ellen Ceresko, an instructor at Impact Zone Golf in Naples, finished fourth in the 2019 LPGA Teaching and Club Professionals National Championship to qualify for the KPMG Women's LPGA Championship in 2020.(Photo: Impact Zone Golf)

Ellen Ceresko: The Impact Zone instructor qualified for the KPMG Women's LPGA Championship by finishing fourth in the LPGA Teaching and Club Professional National Championship at Pinehurst Resort last week.

Ceresko, the director of ladies programming for the Naples-based academy, bounced back from a first-round 81 to shoot a 2-under 70, then had a 75 in the final round for a 226, a stroke from tying for second. The top eight qualified for the LPGA Championship.

U.S. Senior Women's Amateur: Kim Keyer-Scott of Estero made it to the Round of 16 at Cedar Rapids Country Club in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, last week.

Keyer-Scott won her first match, 5 and 4, and Hiestand, a finalist in the Women's Mid-Amateur in 2016, won hers, 4 and 3. Keyer-Scott beat M.K. Thanos-Zordani of Palm Desert, California, 4 and 3, in the Round of 32, but Hiestand lost to Laura Webb of Ireland, 2 and 1.

Kris Tamulis: The Naples High graduate who plays out of Grey Oaks Country Club tied for 63rd in the Cambia Portland Classic on Sunday. She shot 73-67-75-71/286.

Canadian Brooke Henderson, who has a part-time residence at Miromar Lakes, tied for fourth. Mo Martin, who plays out of The Club Pelican Bay, has played just once since April due to a back injury.

Tamulis is 128th in the season-long Race to the CME Globe, where the top 72 qualify for the CME Group Tour Championship, which is Nov. 18-24 at Tiburón Golf Club at the Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort. Henderson is second, while Martin is 134th.

Jack Irons: The Naples golfer tied for second in the AJGA K.J. Choi Foundation Junior Championship. Irons shot 1 under for the tournament.

FSGA Mid-Senior: Owen Joyner of Bonita Springs finished third on Aug. 25 at Laurel Country Club in Sarasota. He shot 73-66-72/211. Tim Carpenter of Fort Myers tied for 14th at 220, and Chris Black of Fort Myers tied for 22nd at 224. Ryan Torchia of Estero tied for 26th at 226.

Naples Lakes Country Club: The club was recently named a top winner of Audubon International’s fifth annual BioBlitz, sponsored by the United States Golf Association Competing with other Florida golf course communities, Naples Lakes earned second place for sighting 508 species on its Arnold Palmer Signature golf course.

According to Monica D. Higgins, second assistant superintendent of Naples Lakes, “Volunteers at this year’s event spotted, identified, and listed 48 different bird species, 13 mammals, 77 insects, 19 reptiles and fish, 9 amphibians, 5 other animals, including wild hog, wood duck and Florida black bear, plus 377 plants, fungi and lichens. The bird tour revealed purple martins and killdeer. On the Plant Identification Tour, members found native orchids blooming near the 14th tee. During their Critters of the Night tour, the members found two bears sitting on the cartpath.”

The community has participated in Audubon International’s BioBlitz each year since the program’s inception in 2015, and Higgins has guided the event since the program began. She adds, “Although we didn't get first place this year, this is the fifth year we have been one of the top two.”

Durland Golf: Director of instruction Mark Durland, whose academy is at Naples Grande Golf Club, has summer instruction Tuesday through Friday and on Saturday mornings. Lessons can be booked by emailing him at mark@durlandgolf.com or calling 784-2208.

Fall Junior After school and Weekend Programs started the week of Aug. 19. Ages 7-14, regular classes are from 4 to 6 p.m. or 4:30 to 6 p.m., Monday-Thursday and Saturdays 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Classes feature traditional instruction with modern methods and on-course learning and playing opportunities. Ages 3-7, FUNdamentals Classes, Saturdays, 9 to 9:45 a.m. Team 180 Elite High School/College Prep (Ages 13-18) features deep immersion into golf's core skills. Tuesdays and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m.

Call 239-236-5536 or email info@impactzonegolf.com

To submit an item, send an email to ghardwig@naplesnews.com.

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A rundown of other activities and events follows:

CHARITY

QBE Shootout Summer Series

Info: The Summer Series features two-person teams playing the three formats of the Naples PGA Tour event, Remaining events are — Sept. 7, The Quarry, 8:30 a.m.; Oct. 12, Tiburón, 12:30 p.m. Entry fees are $70 per player.

Contact: shootoutsummerseries.com.

Sons and Ladies Auxiliary of AmVets tournament

Info: The Sons and Ladies Auxiliary of AmVets Post 23 is holding its second annual golf tournament fundraiser Sunday, Sept. 15. The tournament starts at 8:30 a.m. with a shotgun start and scramble format at Glen Eagle Golf and Country Club. Luncheon and door prizes to follow after the tournament at AmVets Post, 2727 Bayshore Drive. Proper golf attire is required at the tournament. The cost is $75 per golfer/$300 per foursome. Proceeds are used to support veterans in the community.

Contact: Jim King at 239-821-8399.

Taste Of Immokalee Tournament

Info: Set for Saturday, Sept. 21 at Vineyards. The event supports internships and scholarships for the Immokalee High School students. There will be an 8:30 a.m. shotgun start. The entry fee is $150 per golfer or $550 for a foursome. Hole sponsorships are available for $300.

Contact: Marie Capita at TasteofImmokalee.com

Birdies & Bass tournament

Info: Rusty's Naples charity tournament will be Saturday, Oct. 12 at The Quarry. Registration is at 7:30 a.m., with a 9 a.m. shotgun start. The event benefits the Brady Colbert Foundation. The entry fee is $125 per person. Rusty's will host an after party. Hole sponsorships are $100.

Contact: 293-0596.

QBE Shootout Shark Passes

Info: The Shark Pass, which includes 70 discounted vouchers to 10 area courses, is now discounted to $75. The vouchers are good from May 1 through Oct. 31 of this year. Courses are — Tiburón, Hammock Bay, Kensington, Naples Grande, Pelican's Nest, Raptor Bay, The Rookery, The Quarry, The Strand, and Stonebridge.

Info: Entry-level golf sessions for ages 7-18 who are new to the sport will be at PGA Superstore on Mondays through Sept. 16. Session I is from 4 to 5 p.m., and Session II is from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m. Registration fee is $40 for each session. Class size limited to 10 registered. Participants will learn the fundamentals of full swing, pitching, chipping and putting, and will utilize simulators and the putting green at the PGA Tour Superstore.

Contact: thefirstteenaplescollier.org, Cindy Darland at darlandnfl@aol.com, or register at www.TheFirstTeeNaplesCollier.org/register.

Impact Zone Golf

Contact: 236-5536

Junior Golf Performance Academy

Info: At Quail Creek Country Club.After-School JGPA Group Program, Monday-Friday, 14 group sessions to choose from (Enrollment open for 140 juniors, very limited availability). $160-$600/month, Golf Skill Development, Fitness & On-Course Training provided by our team of 9 JGPA Coaches, in addition to JGPA Fitness Director, Thor Parrish. Private coaching is also available.

Contact: Peter Crocitto with Impact Zone Golf at 239-236-5536 or pcrocitto@impactzonegolf.com, or go to uskidsgolf.com.

AREA ORGANIZATIONS

Alico Family Golf Center

Info: Get Golf Ready classes. Cost $150 for five-session series, noon to 1 p.m. Wednesdays or Saturdays, coached by Jeremy Wells and Kraig Feighery. The 1-hour lessons are for total beginners and golfers with 10 or fewer golf course experiences.

Info: The Southwest Florida Chapter of the LPGA Amateur Golf Association, formally the Executive Women’s Golf Association (EWGA) was formed as a Naples chapter in 1999 with ladies primarily in the Naples area. The association is now the Southwest Florida Chapter, and members stretch all the way from Marco Island to Naples to Fort Myers and Cape Coral.

Info: Men’s league Saturdays at 8 a.m.; ladies league Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.

Contact: 352-0777, ValenciaGolfandCountryClub.com

World Golfers Amateur Tour-Southwest Florida

Info: $189 per year.

Contact: wgatusa.com or email Jim Stockman at jim@worldgolfersusa.com

INSTRUCTION, ETC.

Alico Family Golf Center: Thursday Ladies Class, 9 to 10 a.m., $25 per person with golf instructor Debbie Keim (508) 737-3004, deb@alicofamilygolf.com. Keim has 25 years of experience and was head professional at Paul Harney Golf Course in Falmouth, Massachusetts, for the past four years. Lesson rates are $60 for 30 minutes, $100 for an hour, $160 for 3-pack of 30 minutes, $275 for 3-pack of 60 minutes, or $20 additional person lesson. Contact Kraig Feighery at kraig@alicofamilygolf.com or 231-2036 or 334-4653.

APEX Golf: State-of-the-art training studio combining the skills of a golf pro and a physical therapist to improve the body and golf swing. The studio has a high-definition golf simulator, a K-Vest golf swing analyzer, video, and strength and flexibility testing software. APEX offers a free 30-minute analysis of the body and swing. Call 337-2739.

Mike Calbot International Golf Studio & Triad Golf Schools: New home at Raptor Bay Golf Club in Bonita Springs. Full and half-day schools are offered. Instructional packages are one, two or three days. All instruction is by appointment only. Private instruction and playing lessons also available. More than 35 years of instructional experience. Call 482-0900 or visit www.golfdoctorusa.com.

John Carroll Lessons: Former Club Pelican Bay professional John Carroll is at Talis Park Golf Club in North Naples. Carroll was at Pelican Bay for 29 years. He is available for instruction Tuesdays through Saturdays. To make an appointment, call 597-3561 or 860-8470.

Dennis Clark Lessons: Clark, a PGA Master Professional and director of the Dennis Clark Golf Academy at the Marriott Marco Island Resort and Spa, works with developing juniors interested in furthering their careers to the collegiate level. Clark has helped several young men and women with scholarship recognition and go on to professional careers. He works with both advanced and new players, in either group or one-on-one sessions. All lessons and clinics are by appointment. Call 777-6043 or visit dennisclarkgolf.com.

Concierge Service of Naples: An off-site service free of charge to the customer. The service can make tee times year-round at private country clubs in Southwest Florida up to 60 days in advance. The fee is the normal guest rate, and golfers are not required to play with a member. Call 285-7457.

Coral Isle Golf Center: The teaching center on Collier Boulevard on the way to Marco Island has a weekly clinic schedule — Tuesdays, ladies; Thursdays, men; Saturdays, mixed. There is a short-game class Fridays, with advanced sign-up required. All start at 10 a.m. Call 732-6900.

Wayne Dahlstrom Golf Academy: Dahlstrom is conducting short-game clinics from 9 to 10 a.m. Fridays at Lakewood Country Club (775-0765) and Wednesdays at Riviera Country Club (774-2011) for $20 per person. The class is limited to six participants. Private and semiprivate full swing lessons also are available. Call Dahlstrom at 370-1047 or email wd.top100@gmail.com.

Gail Graham Golf: Gail Graham is a two-time LPGA Tour winner with over 35 years of golf experience. Game improvement programs for all ages and skill levels. Individual and Group Lessons. Clinics. Corporate events. Visit gailgrahamgolf.com, follow on Facebook (Gail Graham Golf) and Instagram (gailgrahamgolf).

Golf Academy at The Strand: A new golf academy is under way at The Strand in North Naples and is also open to the public in addition to members. J.C. Anderson is the new director of instruction for the academy. Anderson is a former PGA Tour player, who played in six major championships and made over 100 cuts in PGA Tour-sanctioned events. He has been the director of instruction previously in clubs in Dallas and St. Louis, and a previous Player of the Year in both PGA sections, and has worked with junior golfers. To contact Anderson, call (636) 577-9554 or email jcanderson@pga.com.

The Golf Institute: Club fitting program includes evaluation based on series of tests, including frequency check and lie and loft angle. Putting evaluations also are available. Call 643-5895.

Impact Zone Golf: The headquarters' simulator remains open to the public for rounds of golf from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday at $75 per hour; 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., private or group instruction, starting at $135 per person; Private or group instruction is available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily at Tiburón Golf Club or at the headquarters, starting hourly at $135 per person; Ladies Golf with Ellen Ceresko — Two-Day Golf School, March 9-10; Ladies Seasonal Weekly Program, Tuesdays 8:30 to 10 a.m., Wednesdays 10 to 11:30 a.m., Sundays 10 to 11:30 a.m., Matches every other Thursday after 3 p.m.; Weekly Ladies Clinics, Jan. 7-April 1, Mondays, 10 to 10:45 a.m.; Better Putting School with Bernard Sheridan, April 7, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Signature School with Bobby Clampett, March 23-24, April 27-28, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. standard, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. VIP. Call 236-5536 for more information or to register.

David Leadbetter Golf Academy: At LaPlaya Beach & Golf Club. Leadbetter is a Golf Magazine Top 100 Teacher. Academy programs include three-day golf schools and players’ schools, and a one-day mini-school. Private instruction and playing lessons also are available. Call 592-1444.

Dan Lockhart: Lessons at Fiddlesticks Country Club in Fort Myers. Lockhart can have lessons with the general public, even though Fiddlesticks is a private club. Rates are $135 for a 1-hour private lesson, $625 for a 5-hour lesson program or $1,150 for a 10-hour lesson program that includes a 9-hole playing lesson. Email dan44gt@pga.com.

On the Course Tee Times: Naples-based concierge service that partners with over two dozen public, semiprivate and private golf clubs across Southwest Florida. Specializes in arranging times on courses at discounted rates, and access to several private, members-only clubs. No service or membership fees charged. Call 690-6077.

Tom Patri Golf School: At Esplanade. Patri is a former South Florida Teacher of the Year and Met (N.Y.) PGA Teacher of the Year. Available to all skill levels, and juniors. Private instruction by the hour, half and full day sessions also. Short game specialist. Visit www.tompatri.com or email tpatri@mindspring.com.

Jim Sowerwine: The director of instruction at Pelican’s Nest Golf Club in Bonita Springs has been consistently voted as one of Florida’s top instructors by his peers by Golf Digest Magazine. Sowerwine has been voted “Top 10 Golf Professionals of Naples” by Gulfshore Life Magazine, and developed the Inside Approach Swing Trainer, awarded the No. 1 swing trainer two consecutive years by Golf Digest Magazine. Sowerwine offers private lessons, group instruction and playing lessons, and also specializes in short-game instruction. Contact him at jimsowerwine@gmail.com, 239-272-9631 or visit www.sowerwinegolf.com.

The Strand Academy: The new academy, under director of instruction J.C. Anderson, will have a Get Golf Ready clinic, open to everyone, on Saturdays that started Oct. 20, at 9 a.m. The cost is $20 per person and space is limited. Call The Strand golf shop at 239-592-9944 or Anderson at 636-577-9554 to sign up.

Jim Suttie Academy at TwinEagles: Former National PGA Teacher of the Year, and is rated in the Top 50 Teachers by Golf Digest, and Top 100 Teachers in America by Golf Magazine. Instruction available to TwinEagles members and the general public at high-tech indoor/outdoor training center at TwinEagles Club. Call 1-800-765-3838 to schedule a lesson or to inquire about programs.